This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. Informa PLC's registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. Registered in England and Wales. Number 8860726.

WABCO Welcomes Pending EU Mandate on ESC for Heavy Trucks, Buses

Dec 03, 2007

WABCO Holdings Inc. announced its support of the UN/ECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe) agreement that paves the way for new EU legislation mandating electronic stability control (ESC) systems for certain categories of heavy truck/trailer combinations and touring coaches. The agreement allows the EU to make ESC a mandatory requirement by reference to UN/ECE braking Regulation 13, which will require new vehicles to be fitted with ESC systems starting in 2010.

"We are proud to have brought the first ESC systems to market in 2001 and to have participated in the UN/ECE working group on braking," said WABCO chief executive officer Jacques Esculier. "We are confident that this agreement will help expedite the introduction of similar requirements in other parts of the world," he added. According to the European Commission*, Regulation 13 which is widely accepted in many parts of the world, promotes harmonization of standards and encourages the wider use of ESC systems, even in countries where they may not be a mandatory requirement.

WABCO pioneered commercial vehicle ESC in 2001 when it offered the system as an option on the company's electronic braking system (EBS). The company is one of the leading providers of electronic braking, stability, suspension and transmission control systems for the commercial vehicle industry. Today, less than 10 percent of all new heavy trucks and buses in Europe are equipped with electronic stability controls.

Stability control systems help drivers to maintain control of their vehicles in a variety of potentially dangerous situations by automatically taking corrective action, for example during sudden lane changes or while cornering at excessive speed. They can help prevent truck-trailer combinations from rolling-over, skidding or jack-knifing. Stabilization of the vehicle is achieved by selective braking on each wheel while simultaneously reducing engine power.